In order to ensure security during night hours on the roads of Punjab, a 4,000-strong police force will undertake night patrolling across the state.

In order to ensure security during night hours on the roads of Punjab, a 4,000-strong police force will undertake night patrolling across the state.

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal flagged off the first such fleet of vehicles, launching the Night Policing Scheme (NPS), for which he even laid a foundation stone at the Khanpur 'T' point in Kharar near here.

"Night policing has been launched to cover up certain gaps like absenteeism among the cops during night hours and ensure people the safety at vulnerable points," Sukhbir later said at a press conference here.

He said that in all, 1,014 well-equipped vehicles would remain on roads from 10 pm to 6 am. It aimed at instilling a sense of security and giving fillip to night commerce and trade, he added.Seven highway patrol centres and 15 ambulance points at the inter-state boundaries have been established under the night patrolling operation.

DGP Sumedh Singh Saini clarified that if anyone from among the public felt harassed by the night patrolling cops, he could simply dial 100 or approach the nearest police station for registering a complaint.

No women cops would be put on the night patrolling, the DGP said.Saini said an SP- or DSP-rank officer would remain on vigil throughout the night "to supervise" the night patrolling.

The state police would soon launch the rural rapid response system to facilitate the villagers having timely access to police arriving on the spot.

A "Safe City' concept would be another venture that the state police would come up with by the year-end, with Amritsar and Ludhiana to begin with, the DGP said.